The Project Begins

February 1, 2010

One major hurtle to getting this project off the ground was sonar equipment. I have my own side scan sonar gear but it’s an older hybrid Klein analog/digital system with 300 feet of soft tow cable that I’m comfortable working with in 170 fsw or less. Although the older Klein gear is very capable I’d be more comfortable with newer equipment and armored tow cable. Since the U-550 was supposed to be in approximately 300 fsw and we’d be using a hand launched towfish with no depressor I was going to need about 1000 feet of armored cable. My friends, sometimes employers, and all around great shipwreck hunting enthusiasts John Fish, Arne Carr, and Story Fish, who own/operate American Underwater Search and Survey (AUSS), had the gear, knowledge, and I hoped interest that would fit the bill.

Okay hear goes, this has been sitting in the back of my head for about six months now and I guess I need to get it out. I’m bring it up here in an email so you two can talk about it before you give me an answer.

There’s been a lot of fuss about me going out to find the U-550 lately and it all started with one of the guys on the A-Team, Jeff. He’s been pinging on me since the fall to go find it this coming season because he wants to dive it. Tim Coleman has also been hinting at it for about a year or more now. Paul Blanchette had a trip planned to go find her this past season on Captain Zero’s boat with Kozak, but first Paul died in an unfortunate diving accident at the beginning of the season, then Captain Zero also died in a diving accident mid season. It’s been a really bad year, two great guys. Anyway, there are a few people outside our tight knit group who have also approached me to use my gear to go find it, but I’d rather keep it in house.

Long story short, I’m considering trying to put together an August trip to get this one off the list and maybe hit a few other things if all goes quickly. But (and this is the problem) my gear isn’t suitable for deep tows in 300 fsw. I’d be a hell of a lot more comfortable with some better gear and armored cable to get this done, any idea with whom and where I might be able to beg, borrow or ….. borrow some appropriate gear? 272TD ….. Klein 3000 …….